276 ALLEGED DEFECTS OF LONDON RODS. 



nation to breaking of the top. If any one doubts 

 what I say respecting the paltry, over-fine wrap- 

 ping of his London rod, let him undo a small 

 portion of the ring or splice silk, and see if it be 

 strong or weak. Be it remembered that the 

 tighter the silk wrapping is wound on the rod, 

 the more action and life it will have. Now, sir, 

 if you would persuade the London school to put 

 on all their rods good sound coarse Sadler's silk, 

 well waxed with cobler's wax, and then some 

 water-proof dressing that will strengthen the 

 silk, instead of the destroying varnish they now 

 use, we should have an efficient, perfect fly-rod, 

 that would last for years. Every thing, I am 

 speaking generally, in London rods is sacrificed 

 to neatness, any little weak trash doing for trout 

 rods, reels, lines, flies, gut, &c. ; and this has led 

 to the error of making salmon-rods and other 

 salmon-fishing gear so defective. The rings on 

 the top joints are generally too large ; and since 

 reel-lines are now more perfect, I would recom- 

 mend rather small rings, except the two on the 

 butt joint." 



My correspondent is a gentleman of great 

 experience, and very ingenious withal, and his 

 suggestions I consider very valuable. He has a 

 high opinion of the Dublin salmon and trout fly- 

 rods, made by Martin Kelly of that city. He 

 thinks them stronger, more durable, and more 



